Bond increased for man with shotgun

MIDDLETOWN -- A local judge increased the bond and put several conditions on a Durham man who reportedly stole a gun Wednesday and threatened to kill himself.

Jesse J. Botti, 24, was arraigned Thursday in Middletown Superior Court on charges of firearm theft and interfering with an officer. Judge Lisa Morgan immediately upped Botti's bond from $10,000 to $25,000. She also placed the suspect on suicide watch and ordered that he be monitored while detoxing from several drugs, including heroin and anti-anxiety drugs. The judge also ordered that Botti is not allowed to return to the house where he stole the gun, should be post bond, or have contact with his girlfriend.

The chain of events began Wednesday after state police received a 911 call around 3:30 p.m. informing them that Botti had made "numerous phone calls indicating that he was going to kill himself," police said. Botti's girlfriend later told police he stole the gun from one of her relatives.

Local and state officials serached for nearly five hours for the man, police said. Botti told witnesses he was in the woods but he wouldn't say where.

Police tried to find him by using the GPS technology in his phone but were unsuccessful, according to police.

Troopers and other emergency personnel searched for Botti in local and state parks in Durham, Middlefield, Haddam, Chester, and the city of Middletown.

Police found Botti's vacant car on Brookes Road -- behind Middlesex Community College -- and found Botti approximately one quarter of a mile away.

The gun, which was fully loaded, was found nearby. Botti was charged with theft of a firearm and interfering with an officer.

Botti returns to Middletown Superior Court Oct. 13, at which time he is expected to plead to the charges, according to court documents.

Walt Gogolya can be reached by e-mail at wgogolya@middletownpress.com. Text MIDNEWS to 22700 to get news alerts directly to your cell phone. Standard messaging and data rates apply.